NORAD, USNORTHCOM and the Mexican air force to conduct live fly exercise

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colorado --
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), will participate with the Mexican air force in AMALGAM EAGLE 17, a tactical exercise from July 11-14, 2017.During the live-fly exercise, Mexico and the United States will respond to an aircraft simulating an illicit flight transiting the airspace of both countries. AMALGAM EAGLE 17 is designed to enhance mutual warning and information sharing procedures in support of a cooperative response to an illicit flight that crosses the border.U.S. representatives from NORAD, USNORTHCOM, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air and Marine Operations Center, and the Transportation Security Administration will participate in the exercise, while participants from Mexico will include members of their air force, civil aviation authority, and air traffic control agency.The exercise will focus on the following objectives:

- Enhance operational and communication capabilities between NORAD, USNORTHCOM and SEDENA to facilitate a continental air domain common operational picture.- Use intelligence to conduct operations and air interdiction against airborne targets that could be considered suspicious, illicit or a threat.-Share operational information to trigger a timely mutual warning between both countries.- Develop and use a communication process at strategic, operational and tactical levels regarding illicit aircraft transiting U.S. - Mexico air space.-Implement response procedures and protocols between military and civil authorities from both countries in case of a suspicious, illicit or threat aircraft transiting between the U.S. - Mexico air space.

This activity will consist of flights by various aircraft capable of detection and interception, the deployment of observers to locations in Mexico and the United States, and the validation of communications channels which will enhance reaction time and strengthen the existing links between participants of each nation. Planning for the exercise was conducted with full respect for the sovereignty of each country.

NORAD's mission – in close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners – is to conduct aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in defense of North America.U.S. Northern Command is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. USNORTHCOM provides DOD capabilities for disaster response operations in support of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, NIFC, and state and local officials.For more information, contact NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889.

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